Drinking cup



May 14, 1940. B MERT'A nnmxme cur Filed Feb. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Inve'n TOT-I & ,1 I 5mm 2.200.512

nnmxme ctir Fil ed Feb. 14,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Willflllllll 4 I'n'vcnfor I i @Mffiwa Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES DRINKING CUP Bozena Merta, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 14, 1936,. Serial No. 63,919

4 Claims.

This invention relates to non-rigid receptacles, cups, or cup liners and more particularly to improved blanks therefor.

the outer overlapping edge is adhesively secured to the body of the blank to secure it in cup-shape formation. Most, if not all, commercial forms of blanks for producing conically shaped cups arenon-symmetrical in outline, necessitating careful handling of the blanks in the process of applying the adhesive material to the proper edge of the blank, and in feeding the blanks to the forming mandrel.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel design of blank of symmetrical outline which permits reversal of the blank.

Another object is to provide a blank having an extension adjacent the apex portion of the cup blank, serving as the means for gripping to facilitate its formation into a cup.

Still another object is the provision of a novel design blank having an extension adjacent the apex portion of the blank serving as the means for gripping to facilitate its formation into a cup, and adapted to be disposed interiorly of and adjacent theapex of the cup.

A further object is the provision of a novel design of blank having two symmetrical extensions adjacent the apex portion of the blank, one

- serving as the means for gripping in the operation of forming the cup and disposed on the interior apex portion of the cup, and the other overlapping the exterior apex portion of the cup.

A still further object is to provide a cup blank of novel design that is economical for use in forming 'conical cups, and which results in producing a cup of reinforced construction, having a tightly closed relatively strong apex portion.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a developed plan view of the first form of blank.

Figure 2 is a side view of a cup made from a blank of first form.

Figure 8 is a developed plan view of the improved conical cup blank embodying this invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the cup formedfrom the novel design of blank shown in Fig. 3 embodying the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the formed cup.

Fig. 6 is a view of the novel design of blank and mandrel for forming it into a cup, showing the blank in the initial position of engagement with the mandrel.

Fig. 7-15 a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the final step in the operation of forming the cup.

Figs. 1 and 2 represent the first important development of my invention, the main feature of my conical cup being the highly desirable rigid, strong and overlapping construction of the apex of the finished cup. The blank indicated in this form is designated by reference numeral I and is of symmetricalheart shape including two similarly curved edges 2 and -3 joined to form a tip 4, and'the opposite ends merge into similarly curved edges 5 and 5a respectively, connected at 6, forming a reentrant angle thereat. The portions 1 and 8, adjacent said edges 5 and 5a, serve as extensions either of which may be gripped in the cone mandrel'for forming a cup in a manner herein described. In order that the blank may be secured in cup shape form, an area adjacent one of said edges 2 or 3, depending upon which of the extensions, I or 8, is to be gripped by the mandrel, is provided with an adhesive coating 9. Said adhesive area is always located in oppositerelation to the extension adapted to be gripped by the mandrel. A cup produced by such a. heart shape lblank is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The next development in the principles of construction illustrated and described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 is the form which I will now describe and which differs from the first above mentioned form only in the addition to the blank of Fig. 1 of two substantially triangular wing-like areas, which as a whole, present a blank as shown in Fig. 3.

cated in the same relations to the center I 2, and their lower portion each merge into similarly formed curved edges I6 and H, which meet at or adjacent the center l2, forming areentrant angle. However, the said edges l3 and il, may be located at angle to the radius of the arc passing through its outer end, different from the angle formed by the other edge, such as a radial edge, and it will also be seen that the portions adjacent curved edges I6 and I'll need not be of similar size or shape. However, a symmetrical design of blank is preferred since it simplifies handling in the operation ofmaking cups, and permits reversing of the blank, side for side, requiring less care in the operation of applying adhesive, or in the operation of forming the cup.

The lateral portions of the blank designated, 20 and 2|, and defined by dot and dash lines 22 .-and 23, provide the overlapping portionsforming the side wall of the cup which serve to provide adequate reinforcement for the entire cup structure. The lower portions of said areas 20 and 2| each include extensions, 24 and 25 respectively, defined by the curved edges l6 and I1. One of said extensions serves as the means for gripping by a mandrel for facilitating the formation of I the blank into a cup, and by reason thereof is caused to be disposed interiorly and forming a part of the inner apex portion of the cup, while the other extension is wrapped to form an exterior apex portion of the cup, resulting in producing a tightly closed relatively rigid apex portion of the cup.

The cup may be formed on a mandrel of the type illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 which in-' cludes a cone composed of a frusto-conical portion 30, made of metal and a longitudinally movable cone tip 3i, which is adapted to grip the extension 25 of the blank preparatory to wrapping the blank around the cone to form the cup. In gripping the extension 25, it is folded long the line indicated at 2511, and the adjustable arm 32, engaging the blank adjacent said fold is caused to wrap the blank around the cone to form the cup. The overlapping outer portion 20, is then adhesively connected to the body of the blank to secure it in cup-shape formation. As may be seen in the drawings the lateral portion of the blank adjacent edge I3 is provided with an area of adhesive indicated at 34, and it may be understood that such adhesive may be applied thereto during the'forming operation. It will also be apparent that the cup may be formed by either right or left hand wrapping, and desirably the adhesive is applied to the opposite lateral portion of the blank when extension 24 is to be inserted into the gripper of the mandrel, in forming the cup. coated area 34, desirably terminates a short distance from the straight edge l3, so that adhesive will not be pressed out beyond the edge when forming the cup.

A further important feature of my'invention is the novel method of forming the cup, this being accomplished by gripping either of the extending portions 24 or 25, the edges of which form the aforesaid reentrant angle, the gripping medium whereof grips such extension substantially along the dotted line indicated in the drawings. The gripping element, preferably of conical shape, rotates to roll the cup into the form indicated in Fig. 4 in such a manner that the gripped extension 24 (or 25) when released, liesflrmly against the inside surface of the apex The adhesive an exterior overlapping double construction forv the apex of the cup giving the same adequate strength, rigidity and body. Further, it will be noted that in the cup construction illustrated in Fig. 2 a portion of the blank comprising extension 3 has been gripped-in forming the cup and lies on the inside of the apex interiorly of the cup, this also imparting added rigidity, body and resulting in said extension being held firmly against the wall of the apex by the natural tendency of the paper as well as by the weight of water which may be placed in the cup.

Various changesmay be made in the embodiment' of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cup of conical form, formed from a blank having an arcuate edge and a pair of straight converging edges merging to form an edge defining a re-entrant angle and terminating substantially at the center of the arc, and having a pair of integral segments on opposite sides respectively of said re-entrant angle, the edges of the segments being rounded, one of the segments forming a. reinforcing interior for the apex of the cup, the other of said segments and the adjacent portion of the blank forming an overlapping exterior reinforcing portion for the apex of the cup, said exterior reinforcing portion-being adhesively secured to the body of the cup.

2. A cup of conical form, formed from a blank of substantially triangular shape having an arcuate edge and two non-radial straight edges which converge and merge to form a re-entrant angle and terminating substantially at the center of the arc, and having a pairof integral segments on opposite sides respectively of said re-entrant angle, the edges of the segments being rounded, one of said segments having outer edge portion folded to provide a gripping extension to facilitate the formation of the cup, the aforementioned segment forming a reinforcing interior for the apex of the cup, the other segment and the adjacent portion of the blank forming an overlapping exterior reinforcing portion for the apex of the cup, the exterior reinforcing portion having its inner surface provided with an adhesive coating whereby it may be fixedly secured to the body of the cup.

3. The method of forming a conical cup from a blank having'an arcuate edge and a pair of non-radial straight converging edges terminating in rounded segments which coact to form a re-enti'ant angle therebetween, comprising gripping one cf the segments on the apex portion of a conical mandrel, thence rolling the blank from said gripped segment around the conical mandrel toward the arcuate edge of the blank, and then in an arcuate path toward the other segmental portion until the last mentioned segaeooma mental portion overlaps the apex of the cup, so that the'exterior non-parallel blank edge defines an inclined spiral about the clip from the upper edge to the apex at, the lower end thereof.

4. The method of forming a conical cup from a blank having an arcuate edge, and a pair of non-radial straight convergingedges terminating'in rounded segments which coact to form a re-entrant angle therebetween, comprising folding one of the segmental portions defining a chord of the rounded edge of said segmentalportion, gripping the folded portion of said segment on the apex portion of a conical mandrel,

blank and then in an arcuate path toward theother segmental portion until the last mentioned segmental portion overlaps the apex of the cup. so that the exterior non-parallel blank edge defines an inclined spiral about the cup from the upper edge to the apex at the lower end thereof, and adhesively uniting the overlapping portions of the blank together.

BOZENA MER'IA. 

